UPDATE: Seattle Fire rescues kayakers off Harbor Avenue

(WSB photo)
1:01 PM: Big Seattle Fire response this past half-hour for two kayakers reported to possibly be in trouble. The SFD units went to Jack Block Park; an SFD fireboat crew picked the kayakers up and took them to Seacrest. Rescuers checked them out and told us at the scene that neither needed to go to the hospital.

6:04 PM: This comment has more on what happened.

10 Replies to "UPDATE: Seattle Fire rescues kayakers off Harbor Avenue"

  • Aaron Bocchetti April 5, 2015 (1:40 pm)

    Seattle Fire Rescue Boat 5,C Platoon rescued the kayakers.

    • WSB April 5, 2015 (2:07 pm)

      Apologies! Fixing.

  • JayDee April 5, 2015 (2:34 pm)

    That explains the Ladder unit exiting onto Harbor Ave from the park. I was mystified why the unit was there. Thanks. I stopped to let the unit get onto Harbor Ave.

  • Curiosity April 5, 2015 (5:31 pm)

    Any idea of what happened here? Hopefully everyone is ok!

    • WSB April 5, 2015 (5:38 pm)

      SFD told us the wife of one kayaker made the 911 call. That’s all we know. And yes, they’re OK – they were headed home since it was determined nobody needed medical care.

  • kelsie bliss April 5, 2015 (5:51 pm)

    Yes we are all ok. The kayak took on too much water due to the rough sea. They capsized 500 yards from shore. They were brought in ok:) just cold!

  • Eric1 April 5, 2015 (7:06 pm)

    Good to hear everybody is OK. Sounds like they were prepared for the trip. Always carry safety gear and have a buddy with you so that you can get help when you need it. It is also a good reminder that Puget Sound is always cold: usuallay around 50 degrees even on the sunniest days.

  • Felix April 6, 2015 (8:37 am)

    Mmmmm…Must not have had their sprayskirts on….for the life of me I can’t figure out why people paddle on the Sound without a spraydeck…there is no good reason a kayak should take on water or swamp…..live and learn..glad they are ok

  • YAKattack April 6, 2015 (9:25 am)

    Cold water paddles (even on Hot air temp. days), require proper Gear and Knowledge. At a minimum cold water Body Core protection (dry tops), and the ability to Wet Exit and self rescue. Very smart to paddle with a buddy, and to have Assisted rescue skills, that are practiced to the point of being second nature.

    “Wick, warmth, and weather.” Wear a wicking fabric next to your skin, insulating layers of fleece or wool, then an outer layer made of windproof, watertight materials.
    No cotton; seriously

    Don’t make your self a victim.

  • SGG April 7, 2015 (7:12 am)

    Yes, this time of year it is very cold in the water. Cold water temps and even a light wind can make for a very cold paddle. You need to have the knowledge to safely perform wet exits and have practiced this many times. You need a full body kayaking drysuit, or at a minimum a good wetsuit and drytop combo. Kayaks take on water somtimes and you need to be prepared with a bail pump, or to get out of the boat and clear it while you are in the water. It’s a wet water sport, not a boat you are trying to stay dry in. Don’t go out unless you are prepared to do it the right way.

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